1954-1960: Establishing Chabad in Tunisia

In 1954 Rabbi Gorodetzky travels to Tunisia to see if he can establish a Chabad presence there * The JDC refuses to sponsor, and the program got delayed to 1960 * How did Shlichus begin in Tunisia in 1960? * What did the Rebbe think about Rabbi Pinson’s Mikvah project? * Part Ten

In the previous installment we presented a review on an unknown organization, founded before Fall 1948 (5709) by members of Anash in America, named “The Non-Partisan Committee for the Spiritual Survival of Eastern European Jewry.”

Chabad in Tunisia was founded in 1960 by Rabbi Nissan Pinson, under the auspices of the Lubavitch European Bureau, directed by the Rebbe’s personal emissary to Europe and North Africa, Rabbi Binyomin Eliyahu Gorodetzky.

In this week’s installment we discover that Rabbi Gorodetzky visited Tunisia already in 1954! And the American Joint Distribution (JDC) was obviously not too excited about this development, as they were still trying to figure out how to “rein in” on Chabad’s expansion in Morocco. This delayed the opening of Chabad in Tunisia until 1960.

These fascinating documents are part of the JDC Archives (which were digitized and uploaded online, thanks to a grant from Dr. Georgette Bennett and Dr. Leonard Polonsky CBE).

Summer 1954: First Steps in Tunisia

In a letter written by the Rebbe to Rabbi Gorodetzky, on the 24^th of Tamuz 5714, the Rebbe writes the following words (translated from Hebrew – Igros Kodesh Vol. 9 p 206):

“I have received your telegram about your trip to Tunisia, and surely you also visited Djerba…”

The Community Asked, The Rebbe Agreed

In a report issued by the “Non-Partisan Committee for the Spiritual Survival of Eastern European Jewry” after their 1954 meeting, they write a summary of the Rabbi Gorodetzky’s speech which discussed his trip to Tunisia, and the Rebbe’s agreement to bring Chabad to Tunisia:

Having recently visited Tunisia, Rabbi Gorodetzky gave a firsthand account of Jewish life in that French Protectorate, where some 120,000 Jews live in extremely difficult conditions. For some time past, Jewish leaders of Tunisia have been appealing to the Lubavitcher Rabbi to set up an educational program there on the lines which had proved so successful in Morocco.

During his visit in Tunisia, the speaker said, he became fully acquainted with their needs and problems. After reporting same to the Lubavitcher Rabbi, Rabbi Gorodetzky stated that a plan of action has been evolved, under which operations are to begin without delay.

Rabbi Gorodetzky was also instructed to open negotiations with the European Executive Council of the Joint Distribution Committee, with a view to enlisting their aid. He had already had preliminary discussions with them, and it is confidently expected that the JDC will view the project favorably, in line with its traditional cooperation with Lubavitch.

JDC: We Should NOT Agree To Chabad Expansion

Although the report stated that the JDC would probably agree, the JDC itself wasn’t too happy when they read that report… In an internal letter dated December 2, 1954 [Kislev 7, 5715], from Herbert Katzki (JDC – Europe) to Henrietta Buchman (JDC – New York), he categorically refuses to consider a Chabad expansion into Tunisia:

… (2) You will note in the report that Rabbi Gorodetzki makes special mention of the intention on the part of Lubavitcher to start operating in Tunisia, up to the present time the Lubavitcher has undertaken no work there. We had suspected, arising out of a visit we knew that Gorodetzki made to Tunisia, that something like this was bound to follow. Needless to say, we would be most unwilling to have the Lubavitcher start in this new area. In our view, Tunisia is pretty well covered on the Jewish education side though one can be sure that Lubavitcher will find an angle to get started in the country. This, of course, can only tend to complicate the difficult situation there.

Should Rabbi Gorodetzki raise the question of assistance from JDC in support of a Lubavitcher Tunisia program, we would like to tell him that we cannot subsidize an expansion of his activities in that country. However, before doing so we would like to know from you how important the group is which endorses this project, so that we will know how to deal with the matter.

JDC Tunisia: We Don’t Want Chabad

A copy of the report and the letter were sent to the JDC offices in Tunisia, and they responded echoing the same sentiments, that they do not want Chabad in Tunisia. In a letter written by Henry Levi (JDC – Tunisia) to Herbert Katzki (JDC – Paris) on December 7, 1954 [Kislev 12, 5715], he writes the following:

…In any event, it should be made absolutely clear that we see no reason for the entrance into the educational picture in this country of the Lubavitcher group. The educational program is being well handled by ourselves and we have heard not a word from any of the communities that they have requested any other outside organization to come in to assist in the educational work. We already have the culture and religious department of the Jewish Agency doing some of its own educational work, and in many areas of this work we are cooperating with them…

Accordingly, it would be my recommendation that everything possible be done to dissuade the Lubavitcher from entering into any kind of work in this country since I am afraid it will only lead to confusion and duplication…

JDC to Rabbi Gorodetzky: Stay Out

In a letter dated January 7, 1955 [Teves 13, 5715], written by Herbert Katzki (JDC – Paris) to Rabbi Gorodetzky, he writes the following:

…In view of the fact that you have reported that you are about to undertake a program in Tunisia for which you will solicit the aid of the JDC, and although you have not yet discussed this matter with us, we wish to advise you now that in our opinion the Jewish educational and cultural needs in Tunisia are being adequately covered, or present existing mechanisms are in a position to deal with them without new organizations coming into Tunisia for the purpose.

Therefore, we wish to let you know that the JDC would not look with favor upon a request from the Lubavitcher for financial aid to enable it to undertake a program in Tunisia.

This letter essentially sealed the fate of the Chabad expansion to Tunisia at that time, and the plans were put on hold until a better atmosphere would prevail.

1960: Second Try

In the beginning of 1960, Rabbi Gorodetzky approached the JDC yet again with his plans for Tunisia, after negotiating with the local Jewish community and securing an oral approval for establishing a Chabad presence in said country, understanding the need for Chabad schools, specifically for girls. However, due to internal fights within the local community, the local organizations changed their mind, and decided to notify Rabbi Gorodetzky and the JDC regarding their decision not to welcome Chabad to Tunisia. However, Rabbi Gorodetzky proceeded to secure a temporary visa for Rabbi Nissan Pinson, who would become the Chabad Shliach to Tunisia.

The Rebbe: Shlichus Will Bring You Blessings

In a letter dated Tevet 11, 5720, the Rebbe writes to Rabbi Nissan Pinson (translated from Hebrew):

After a long break I received your letter from the 5th of Teves in which you write about your decision [to accept the Shlichus position in Tunis],

May it be G-d’s will that it should be in a good and auspicious time, and together with your wife, you will utilize your talents in the new location in the best manner, to spread Judaism in general and Chassidus in particular, and this should be done with joy and gladness of the heart,

Surely your activities are the vessels to receive the blessings of G-d in your private matters, and in the essence [of Shlichus] to educate properly and have real Chassidic Nachas from all your descendants…

JDC: We Can Agree on 50% Sponsorship

On April 7, 1960 [Nissan 10, 5720], Mr. Herbert Katzki (JDC – Paris) writes to Mrs. Henrietta Buchman (JDC – New York) about a meeting he had with Rabbi Pinson, who was already in Tunisia:

I was in Tunis last week and while there met with Rabbi Pinson of the Lubavitcher. I wanted to get some idea of what his program is like at the present time and to hear what he had to say. I thought you would be interested in knowing about it for your own information.

Rabbi Pinson said that while he has been in Tunis for about a month, he has not yet undertaken any program at all as yet. He had entered the country with a one month visa, which he succeeded in prolonging for another three months through the efforts of a private person (I learned subsequently that he had approached the Comite de Gestion for such aid but that they had refused to help him because they were not interested in his program). Rabbi Pinson said that until he knew he would get his visa prolonged, he did not want to start anything. Now, with the prolongation, he will be returning to Casablanca for his family and then will come back to Tunis.

What Rabbi Pinson said he had been busying himself with was the matter of Mikwahs in Tunisia. He has been to Bizerte and other communities checking up on Mikwahs and trying to impress them with the necessity for putting them in good order as a step in the revival of interest in religious matters. The other thing he said he wanted to do was to organize some evening courses for adult women, so as to give them some education in Jewish matters. He thought that maybe some time in the future he might be doing something about a school for girls.

So far as the Tunis Comite de Gestion is concerned their view is that he can do whatever he wants about adult courses for women … In talking with the representative of the Comite de Gestion he said that the Comite does not propose to work with the Lubavitcher; that they have their own educational program on which they are working in order to reorganize it and that they certainly want to get their own program in order before doing anything further…

So far as Rabbi Pinson’s program to provide or refurbish Mikwahs is concerned, I do not see that this is any business of the JDC. If the communities want to have Mikwahs that is their local religious problem which should be dealt with without us. Certainly, it seems to me, if the Lubavitcher represents itself to us as wanting to operate an educational program in Tunisia, an educational program means exactly that and not Mikwahs. I left word with Mr. Olnick that should he be approached for assistance on this score, we would not go along.

…I also told Mr. Olnick, however, that we would have no intention of financing a Lubavitcher program in Tunisia 100% and that, if something is to be done for this early period, it would have to be worked out on some kind of 50/50 basis, with some small room for negotiations off that point.

The Rebbe’s Great Satisfaction with Rabbi Pinson

In a letter dated Adar 15, 5720, the Rebbe writes to Rabbi Nissan Pinson (translated from Hebrew):

…It is obvious the great impression etc. I had from what you wrote to me (albeit in short) about your plans regarding building Mikvahs. I asked Rabbi Gorodetzky to write to you at length about it, and may it be G-d’s will that you will succeed.

Rabbi Gorodetzky: We Will Start Soon

In a letter dated May 3, 1960 [Iyar 6, 5720], Mrs. Henrietta Buchman (JDC – New York) responds to Mr. Herbert Katzki (JDC – Paris) reporting a meeting she had with Rabbi Gorodetzky about Chabad educational programs in Tunisia:

…Rabbi Gorodetzki told me that Rabbi Pinson has actually been sent to Tunisia to look the situation over and not to inaugurate the education program. That is something which Rabbi Gorodetzki himself expects to do. It will, however, be administered by Rabbi Pinson who, together with his wife, have secured governmental permission and will be in Tunisia by the middle of this month,

According to Rabbi Gorodetzki, Rabbi Pinson’s concern with mikvahs has nothing to do with the basic program which he had discussed with Mr. Jordan. It is merely an incidental interest of the Lubavitcher; adult education is also of secondary consideration.

These are fringe activities of the Lubavitcher programs, and Rabbi Gorodetzki is not seeking JDC assistance for either. He naturally expects that the understanding he had with Mr. Jordan in regard to the basic education program which the Lubavitcher plans to set up and the extent of JDC assistance for that purpose, still hold…

“I Hope They Refuse So I Can Go Independent”

In a letter dated July 5, 1960 [Tammuz 10, 5720], Mr. Lawrence Olnick (JDC – Tunisia) reports to Mr. Herbert Katzki (JDC – Europe) about his meeting with Rabbi Gorodetzky, and the agreement of the JDC to sponsor the Chabad educational activities in Tunisia:

…In my subsequent interview of July 5, Rabbi Gorodetzki declared: I did not go to Djerba because I was ill. I am negotiating with the Comite de Gestion for a program under their auspices; if they accept (which I do not expect) I shall proceed on this basis. If not (and in a way I hope for a refusal as simplifying my work) I will act independently; I have already made confidential contacts and am confident I can resolve all problems including the legal ones. I shall probably begin with girls, perhaps including adolescents, but do not intend to start with an internat. I shall not request any money until Rabbi Pinson is able to present you with a concrete project dealing with all aspects (housing, personnel, equipment, program, number of children, etc.). If I establish a full-time course for girls I plan a curriculum roughly 50% religious and 50% secular. If and when I get around to such a program for boys I also hope for a substantial percentage of secular content for them as I recognize that the “Moroccan approach” is not suitable here.

In response to Gorodetzki’s questions, I stated: my instructions direct me to subvention as soon as Pinson presents a real educational program which later may be full or part-time and for either sex, including adolescents. The JDC contribution of 2000 dinars may be used for all expenses (rent, salaries, equipment, school carfares, etc.). JDC’s participation will be 50% on all items. I plan to ask my Headquarters for instructions as to what to do if in my opinion your legal status is not regularized.

Gorodetzki replied: I always work with JDC on the basis that the latter contributes 70% of operating expenses (including Pinson’s salary) and 100% of “installation” (equipment, etc.) costs. Pinson’s salary really should be reimbursed prior to the formal beginning of the educational project as the preliminary organizational work is necessary. Pinson will be prepared to submit receipts for expenditures but I ask that JDC-Tunisia evaluate all his proposed expenditures with a minimum of “red tape” even if the latter approach may be legitimate for the Tunisian agencies.

I responded: I have no authority to participate for more than 60%. For this question as well as the other questions I plan to take advantage of the time still available to seek guidance from my Headquarters…

The JDC and Rabbi Gorodetzky came to an agreement that the JDC will pay 60% and Rabbi Gorodetzky will provide the additional 40%, and with that, the Chabad schools opened in time for the 1961 school year, and continue flourishing to this day.